In a thread I started yesterday I said that my rats were in a terrarium. This was cause for concern to some of you. I should explain that it is a terrarium NOT a tank. It is designed and built for the purpose by myself. The lower third is a 1/6" steel box with a glass front. The upper 2 thirds is a 1/4" steel bar framework with 1/16" steel bars welded to it at 1/2* intervals. The whole thing is divided into 3 levels conected by ramps and ropes. Both design and finished product have been seen and approved by the RSPCA. I have kept rats in this and simular structures for more than 30 years and no animal as ever become sick or injured as a result. I appropriate your concerns but rest asured my rats are safe happy and very well cared for. Thanks any way.

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Not everything that goes up comes back down. Your age for example.
My pets (sorry I can't upload any pics yet)
Cats
Candy (12) Neo and Simba (10) Del Boy (7))
Cockatiels
Undertaker (My OH's choice)(10) Souxsie(10) Sid(9) Rimmer and LIster(1) Ruhbarb and Custard(hatched july 2010)
Rats
Frosty and Jack(1)
Gerbil
Pepper(almost6) Pepper sadly no longer with us RIP pepper.
Its almost a zoo at home,but we love them all.

Have you got a pic of your enclosure? I'm interested to see
I must say that this statement means nothing to me "Both design and finished product have been seen and approved by the RSPCA."

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Hmm yes RSPCA approved...pah. Piccy though please? I can't picture it lol x

Same lol...I googled 'terrarium' for pictures and they're all glass tanks basically. I wanna see, especially since you've built it, I like custom cages

Same about RSPCA tbh

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RIP - Marsh, Hugo, Mako, Rufus, Seamus, Lavender, BigBoy, Tetley and Fitch <3

The problem with tank and topper style cages is that there is still not enough ventilation for an animal that naturally suffers from weak lungs. Also, most tanks are far to narrow (depth wise) for rats, so if you based you cage on a fish tank then I will hazard a guess that it just doesn't have a big enough foot print for a full time home for a pair or more of rats.

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Cara,
Owned by Fern, Heidi, Asteroid, Bubbles & Fizz
Missing Snippet, Frost, Willow & Nix


Opinions are like armpits. Everyone has them, and some stink.

surely that depends on the tank itself? we have yet to actually see a photo of Alan's cage so it's hard to tell what the ventilation would be like.
My mice live in a terrarium <link> but I leave the front off all the time so it's very well ventilated. I also know someone who has built her own rat cage - the bottom 3 inches is glass and the front is glass but the back and sides are barred. again, it is a tank style cage but there is plenty of ventilation.

99% of the tanks I've seen did not have the depth to be a comfortable home for rats. That is aside from the fact that tanks really aren't suitable for rats. Apart from the ventilation issue, they are impossible to fit with a decent amount of enrichment. Most of the tanks I've seen set up for small furries seem to have huge amounts of wasted space in them because you're only able to hang stuff from the top.

I personally don't see why people would potentially risk their rat's health when you can pick up a large second hand cage for very little money. Your friend's cage may well be a very nice cage if the picture I have in my head is right, but Alan's description of his terrarium makes me think of this but in a bigger size.

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Cara,
Owned by Fern, Heidi, Asteroid, Bubbles & Fizz
Missing Snippet, Frost, Willow & Nix


Opinions are like armpits. Everyone has them, and some stink.

That's the cage I see in my head also
I wish the OP would just post a pic to clear this up, but I doubt he will

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Yes. At least 5 times bigger.
And also I appologise for not posting pics. I only have PS3 and the camera I have is not compatible with it.

__________________
Not everything that goes up comes back down. Your age for example.
My pets (sorry I can't upload any pics yet)
Cats
Candy (12) Neo and Simba (10) Del Boy (7))
Cockatiels
Undertaker (My OH's choice)(10) Souxsie(10) Sid(9) Rimmer and LIster(1) Ruhbarb and Custard(hatched july 2010)
Rats
Frosty and Jack(1)
Gerbil
Pepper(almost6) Pepper sadly no longer with us RIP pepper.
Its almost a zoo at home,but we love them all.

Do you not have a phone then?

I really can't picture it in my head

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